Letters of Support :
Below are letters written in support of keeping the music therapy program. Letters are in no particular order.
Pages: Community Members | Alumni | Music therapy majors | Non-music therapy majors | Supervisors of Students | Retired faculty | Parents of students | Family of clients |
Music therapists - non-alum | Employers
Letters
October 7, 2007
Dear Secretary Schulner,
Greetings. My name is Mary Stryck. I've been a music therapist for over twenty years in the Milwaukee area, and I am writing in support of the continuance of the Music Therapy Program at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. I have worked with Lee Anna Rasar both nationally and locally over many years. I serve the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) as a past Chairperson of the AMTA Association Internship Approval Committee and currently I am a delegate to the Assembly, serving alongside Lee Anna. I have seen the high esteem Lee Anna receives at National Conferences for her professional and educational work. She has received many formal awards and acknowledgements, but the true measure of her work is in what she helps to produce-quality music therapy services for the Chippewa Valley area, grant monies to fund services, excellent visibility for UW-EC within the local community, and many capable, professional future music therapists that impact the lives of thousands of people.
I have supervised more than 45 students in the completion of their six-month music therapy internships in my career (including students from UW-EC), and I have found that the students from UW-EC represented the highest quality in terms of understanding theoretical frameworks, acting competently and ethically, and displaying extremely strong musical skills. Upon entering internships, students are often "missing part of the equation"-most often music skills, which they must work at on a remedial basis before beginning their professional entry-level work. This is not true of UW-EC students who arrive at their internship well prepared.
As an adjunct faculty member at Alverno College, Milwaukee, I have a personal interest in contributing to the future of the profession. I would hate to see the only other program in the state eradicated. We need music therapists in all geographic areas of our state, and UW-EC helps to fill this need. If the program were abolished, there would likely follow a decrease in music therapy jobs within the state, thus impacting the services our citizens receive. This would be an immensurate loss.
Considering her workload and impact on the students and the community of UW-EC, Lee Anna is worth more than any salary on paper. I hope that the program remains active and open, and even be given the chance to grow (as it should) into a post-graduate program. I would welcome future UW-EC students to train at the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division.
Thank you for considering my comments in your decision.
Sincerely yours,
Mary C. Stryck, MS, MT-BC
Internship Director,
Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division
9455 W. Watertown Plank Rd.
Wauwatosa, WI
To whom it may concern;
I'm am writing with great shock and disappointment that the music therapy program at U of WI Eau Claire is in jeopardy of closing. I am the Music Therapy Internship Director at a therapeutic day school for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders in Illinois, called Giant Steps Illinois, Inc.
I have trained her students over the last 5 years and have found them to demonstrate skills above those from other schools. The students come prepared to increase their skills in each of the music therapy competencies, whereas other students come to learn some competencies for the first time.
I'd like to be more specific; students from Eau Claire have excellent musical skills in accompanying instruments. This is a particularly lacking skill of most internship-eligible students, but not those from Eau Claire. In addition, students there come prepared to speak articulately about what is happening to the brain when involved in a variety of music experiences. There are very different responses to active participation in music, music listening and a non-music rest-state. The students there, from the excellent to the average, have demonstrated to me their very good understanding of the brain's anatomy and function. Most students are struggling to put together what they learn in anatomy and what they learn about music-based behavior. It's a difficult lesson if it's not taught and many times, it is not.
Clearly, I am a fan of the U of WI-Eau-Claire music therapy program and continue to be impressed with the comprehensive teaching there. My background is in music therapy and I am also a Neurologic Music Therapist who focuses on the impact of rhythm and tempo on the brain. It is essential that the students I train have a good background in anatomy and good skills at accompanying instruments, such as piano and guitar.
I hope that the university will reconsider canceling this extremely valuable program. It would be a huge loss to the field of music therapy.
With regards,
Meredith Powers, MT-BC, NMT Fellow
Giant Steps Illinois, Inc.
Burr Ridge, IL 60527
(630)455-5730
October 8, 2007
To whom it may concern:
I am writing this letter in support of the music therapy program at the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire. I hope that you will choose to continue this valuable music therapy program. The program is an asset not only to your university, but also to the surrounding community, extending to the Twin Cities.
The music therapy program at UW Eau Claire has an excellent reputation in our Great Lakes music therapy region. LeAnna Rasar is known nationally for her excellence in conference presentations and her service in various roles with the American Music Therapy Association.
The U W Eau Claire music therapy program has been in existence for a long time and has produced many well-respected music therapy clinicians. The UW Eau Claire music therapy program is also recognized as a leader in receiving 3 rd party reimbursement for the music therapy service it provides to the Eau Claire community.
I am the internship director at Park Nicollet Health Services in Minneapolis, MN and I have had the privilege of working with the music therapy department at UW Eau Claire in the placement of their music therapy interns. Our internship program has had interns from 20 music therapy university programs through out the country, and the UW Eau Claire program has provided the most consistent and well-coordinated supervision of all of the intern programs. The UW Eau Claire music therapy interns have been some of our most well prepared interns. It has been our experience that the UW Eau Claire music therapy students have had excellent music skills, and knowledge of a wide repertoire of music styles. Two of our Eau Claire music therapy students chose to do their internship projects on the effects of music on the brain, basing their projects on the extensive knowledge and background information that they had received during their UW Eau Claire music therapy coursework. We have truly enjoyed working with these high quality music therapy students from UW Eau Claire. We hope to have more music therapy students from UW- Eau Claire in the future.
The accomplishments and quality of the UW Eau Claire music therapy program are recognized through out the national music therapy community. I hope that you will continue to fund this excellent program. Please feel free to contact me if you need any further information.
Sincerely,
Dawn Miller, MME, MT-BC
Music Therapy Internship Director
Park Nicollet Health Services
October 4, 2007
To Whom It May Concern:
I have been a Juvenile Intake Worker since May, 2007. Prior to that, I was a Juvenile Detention Worker for 18 years. I am writing this letter in support of the Music Therapy Program offered through the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC). I have worked with this program since its origin. I fully support the program; and have nothing negative to report.
Throughout the years, I've seen delinquent children engage in communication through the Music Therapy Program. These are delinquent that were unwilling to communicate otherwise with family or staff. Due to this program, they willingly communicated with music therapy students. I've seen depressed residents participate in the program and later enjoy their day. Likewise, this has been an educational experience for UWEC students as they learn how to work with difficult juvenile delinquent children.
Few residents at the Northwest Regional Detention Center receive visits, partially due to the large area the center covers (Northwest region of the state) and honestly, because families don't care. Through the Music Therapy Program, our community reaches out to this population. This is huge. University students and juvenile residents communicate through a common ground. Everyone likes music.
From experience, I request that this program be extended. I see this program as a positive experience for all that are involved: residents, staff, students, the university and our community as a whole. The program brings about communicate, which is necessary to the healing process of juvenile delinquents. I invite anyone seeking more information on this topic to contact me at 715-839-4824 (or Juvenile Intake Office, 721 Oxford Avenue, Eau Claire WI 54703).
Thank you for your consideration and the opportunity to support this program.
Sincerely,
Duane Lammers
Juvenile Intake Worker
Eau Claire County
My name is Jessica (Lichty '99) Cabeen and as a former UWEC alumni, and music therapist I am writing in regards to the possible cut of the Music Therapy Program at UW-EC.
The Music Therapy Program at UWEC is a catalyst for programs of music therapy in the nation, and globally. By combining research, teaching, and community service in the delivery of course, the curriculum and methodology it is widely recognized and successful. In addition the clinical courses which are taught in community settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, forensic settings, public schools, and private homes, students go into nursing homes, hospitals, and forensic settings one day weekly for academic courses when being graded on their music and clinical skills provided a great level of practice and development of civic responsibility in our own communities. As a former student I felt the community involvement of our music therapy faculty and students makes a deep impact on the Chippewa Valley and its connection to the university. As a former practicum supervisor of students in music therapy programs in the Midwest I can speak from experience when I state that HANDS DOWN UWEC grads are far more prepared, involved and skilled than other university students. The content, curriculum, methodology, and civic responsibilities I learned while a Music Therapy major at UWEC have prepared me in many ways to become the professional I am now, and for that I am forever grateful to Lee Anna and UWEC. Please feel free to contact me for any further clarification,
Sincerely
Jessica
Jessica M. Cabeen
Secondary Special Education Coordinator
Austin Public Schools
301 3rd St NW
Austin MN 55912
507-433-0408
To whom it may concern,
I am writing this letter in support of the music therapy program at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. As an internship supervisor at Struthers Parkinson's Center, I have had the privilege of supervising interns who have completed their academic requirements at UW Eau Claire both through the national registry program as a part of the Park Nicollet music therapy internship. I have also supervised one student through the university based program for internship specifically at Struthers Parkinson's Center.
The students who come from the UW Eau Claire are consistently well prepared academically and musically. Our internship program has provided experience for students from 20 music therapy programs throughout the USA, and some of the best have come from the UW Eau Claire. Leanna Rasar provides them with the tools necessary to be a well qualified music therapist. The students have knowledge of the effects of music on the brain and are able to translate this into practical application. They have been exposed to and taught cutting edge techniques and interventions like Neurologic Music Therapy. Their music skills are consistently high and they have a broad repertoire of songs, musical pieces and music styles. The students from UW Eau Claire also possess a good work ethic and are among the hardest working interns I have supervised. They go above and beyond and their work reflects well on the education they have received from Leanna and also on the entire UW Eau Claire system. We always look forward to having students from your university at our site.
Although the number of students enrolled in the music therapy program may not be as large as in some of your others, this program packs a powerful punch. It has an excellent reputation in the Great Lakes Region and at the national level in the American Music Therapy Association. Leanna is known for her conference presentations, service on committees and tireless dedication to provide high quality music therapy education to students and music therapy interventions to patients. Indeed, the community of Eau Claire has benefited by the music therapy services that she and students have provided to Sacred Heart Hospital and other sites throughout your community. Their work fits in perfectly with UW Eau Claire's mission as it combines research, teaching, and community service in the delivery of courses.
I am hopeful that you will continue to fund the music therapy program. It is one that is very worth retaining as it represents well the UW Eau Claire community and serves well the community at large. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any further assistance.
Sincerely,
Sandra Holten, MT-BC, NMT
Struthers Parkinson's Center
To Whom it May Concern,
I strongly urge you to support and continue the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Music Therapy Program. I was a Internship Director for Music Therapy at Napa State Hospital in Napa, Ca for five years, and have had extensive experience with colleagues and interns from this school. I have only the highest praise for everything I know about this program. It has an excellent reputation in the world of Music Therapy, and the students I worked with as interns were the among the best prepared in the country. My colleagues who are UWEC graduates are well trained and highly professional. They speak words of praise for Lee Ana Rasar.
The program not only educates Music Therapists for future careers in the field, but offers services to the community. I can only imagine it to be one of the most cost effective programs imaginable. The amount of good that is done, compared to the cost of the program, can only be considered a win win proposition. I would hope that wisdom prevails, and this program is not only continued, but highly valued and supported well into the future.
Sincerely,
Susan Jette, MT-BC